KMC Mulling 40 More EV Charging Stations in Kolkata

The Mayor-in-Council of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has passed a proposal according to which the KMC will tie up with Mumbai based Tata Power for the setting up of 40 EV charging stations in Kolkata. The proposal will now be placed before the KMC House in April only for consideration.

KMC already has established 12 charging stations for electric vehicles by local firm Snap-E. The joint venture agreement reveals that teh local body will offer spaces at parking lots in the metropolitan area allowing Tata Power to set up charging stations for electric vehicles.

The officials are already identifying suitable locations that are in proximity to parking lots for EV charging stations. As per reports, the JV partner of KMC has also collaborated with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to build EV charging infra in Mumbai.

Tata Power is discussing the possibilities for EV charging stations infrastructure with KMC in Kolkata in a bid to help India in speedy transition to green mobility. Tata Power has set up EV charging facilities in about 450 cities. KMC may allow the firm to charge EV drivers Rs 12-15 for every KW of charging and KMC is expected to have Rs 1.2 per unit from the revenue.

Locations such as Rabindra Sarani, Chittaranjan Avenue, AJC Bose Road, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, CIT Road, Kyd Street, Rabindra Sarobar and Paharpur Road are reported to have been identified by KMC for charging stations.

Recently, S Suresh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of Power, West Bengal Government, said that the state plans to install 1,000 EV charging stations within the next two years to promote the use of more environmentally friendly cars.

In October, 2022, West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (WBSEDCL) sought a public-private partnership (PPP) to build EV charging stations to increase e-mobility. It was held that 205 charging or battery-swapping stations for various car types are being built by the state-run utility.